Movies About Bipolar

From Jeff Feuerzeig, starring Daniel Johnston, Mabel Johnston, Bill Johnston, Laurie Allen
Rated PG-13

The Devil and Daniel Johnston is a documentary film that follows the life of singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston. From his humble beginnings, to his days of playing clubs around Austin, Texas, to his recent mental health battles, the film covers the life of this eccentric musician. In the film, family and friends are interviewed, home videos are shown, and music is played to help paint a portrait of Johnston's life. The film explores how Johnston's genius–his unique and often darkly humorous songs–are intertwined with his mental health struggles. Ultimately, it is an exploration of the power of art, and how it can affect one's life in both positive and negative ways.

From David O. Russell, starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver
Rated R

Silver Linings Playbook is a comedy-drama film written and directed by David O. Russell and starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, and Julia Stiles. It follows the story of Pat Solitano (Cooper), a former teacher who, after being institutionalized for eight months for bipolar disorder, moves back in with his parents (De Niro and Weaver). Pat is determined to reconcile with his estranged wife, but he meets a young widow named Tiffany (Lawrence) who offers to help him on the condition that they enter a dance competition. Through this unlikely friendship, Pat discovers newfound strength and begins to rebuild his life. Silver Linings Playbook is an inspiring tale of love, friendship, and resilience.

From Liz Garbus, starring Nina Simone, Lisa Simone Kelly, Roger Nupie, Al Schackman
Rated Not Rated

What Happened, Miss Simone? is a 2015 documentary film about the legendary American singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone. Directed by Liz Garbus and produced by Netflix, the film follows Simone's life from her childhood in segregated North Carolina to her reign as the 'High Priestess of Soul.' It follows her struggles with racism, mental illness and self-doubt, as well as her triumphant performances around the world. Drawing on previously unheard audio interviews and rare archival footage, What Happened, Miss Simone? paints a vivid, intimate portrait of the remarkable woman and her extraordinary career.

From Stephen Daldry, starring Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, Stephen Dillane
Rated PG-13

The Hours is a 2002 film directed by Stephen Daldry and starring Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and Julianne Moore. Set in three different time periods, the film tells the story of how a single book, Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, affects the lives of three women. In 1923 England, author Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman) is struggling with her mental health while working on her novel Mrs. Dalloway. Meanwhile, in 1951 Los Angeles, housewife Laura Brown (Julianne Moore) is struggling with depression and feeling trapped in her mundane life. Finally, in 2001 New York, literary editor Clarissa Vaughan (Meryl Streep) is struggling to come to terms with her role in the life of her friend Richard (Ed Harris), who is dying from AIDS. All three women's stories are interwoven as their paths cross and their lives become intertwined by the novel Mrs. Dalloway.

From Alejandro G. Iñárritu, starring Javier Bardem, Maricel Álvarez, Hanaa Bouchaib, Guillermo Estrella
Rated R

From Jordan Melamed, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Bacall, Zooey Deschanel, Don Cheadle
Rated R

From James Gray, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw, Anne Joyce
Rated R

From Gabriele Muccino, starring Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, Aaron Paul, Diane Kruger
Rated R

From Maya Forbes, starring Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana, Imogene Wolodarsky, Ashley Aufderheide
Rated R

From Brett Haley, starring Elle Fanning, Justice Smith, Alexandra Shipp, Kelli O'Hara
Rated TV-MA

From Shira Piven, starring Kristen Wiig, James Marsden, Linda Cardellini, Wes Bentley
Rated R

From Directors: Mike Figgis, Jon Amiel, starring Richard Gere, Lena Olin, Anne Bancroft, Tom Irwin
Rated R